He started his journalism career in 1992 as a freelance writer for Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany’s largest daily national newspaper and soon specialised in air transport. Jens joined Aviation Week and Aviation Daily in 2000 as one of the European correspondents. Later his role was expanded to cover international air transport. In 2013 he was named Managing Editor Commercial.
Jens frequently appears on radio and TV to comment on industry matters. In 2003, he received the Hugo Junkers Award of the German aviation press for his coverage of Fairchild Dornier’s bankruptcy. He was named the country’s top travel and air transport writer by the Travel Industry Club three times. Jens graduated from the Munich School of Journalism.
Lufthansa's first quarter operating loss will be in the range of EUR300 million (US$321 million), according to HypoVereinsbank airline analyst Uwe Weinreich, who downgraded the airline's stock from buy to underperform and revised the price target from EUR16.50 to EUR9.50. Lufthansa's shares traded at EUR8.80 (US$9.43) in the afternoon, up 27 cents. The airline said it expects a significant first quarter operating loss, but it did not give precise figures.
Lufthansa is understood to be nearing a decision on the future layout of its extensive regional system, a new concept dubbed Lufthansa Regional that would effectively end the current Team Lufthansa scheme. Industry sources told The DAILY that talks and internal presentations are expected to take place by the end of April, with a final decision coming within the next few months.
Virgin Atlantic Airways will cut capacity by 3% this month and next as a reaction to slower forward bookings. The carrier will reduce daily frequencies from London to New York from five to four cut two to three of 14 weekly flights to Los Angeles. The carrier at this stage does not plan to reduce its flying program to Hong Kong because of the outbreak of the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus, but a spokesman said, "We are monitoring the situation on a day-to-day basis." -JF
